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But it will feel much colder than this in the biting easterly winds, with bitter Siberian air making temperatures feel more like -6C for many, and as low as -8C in parts of Scotland.

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What is The Beast from the East?

The Beast is the charming name given to a cold weather front heading our way from the east. Normally we enjoy the balmy weather systems from the west.

It’s all because of high pressure centred over Scandinavia and northeast Europe which will dominate next week's weather pattern, dragging in the bitterly cold air from the east.

Winds will generally be gentle or moderate, but they will be coming from a very cold source.

A pressure forecast chart for Monday showing the Beast from the East cold weather front (Image: Met Office)

Katie Greening, forecaster for The Weather Channel, said: "Thursday will be the coldest day across the UK next week, with temperatures struggling to lift above freezing in the day and possibly -7C or -8C overnight.

"Overnight frosts will be a feature of the weather and the most intense cold is expected on Wednesday, February 28 and Thursday, March 1."

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A yellow warning for ice has been issued for Cornwall (Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Cornwall, which is always typically warmer than the rest of the UK, is also due its fair share of the bitterly cold Siberian air.

The forecast for Truro shows how the average day-time temperature will drop from around 6 degrees centigrade on Saturday and Sunday to 4 degrees on Monday and just 1 degree on Thursday. It will of course feel colder in the wind.

Night time temperatures also plummet, from 4 degrees on Saturday to -3 or -4 on Tuesday and Wednesday – leading to widespread frost. It will be colder on higher ground.

So people in eastern parts of the UK will face the risk of snow first. She said by Monday afternoon the southeast will experience heavy snowfall as the strengthening easterly winds pick up moisture while tracking across the North Sea. Up to 2-5cm of snow is possible over parts of east and south-east England, with no thaw expected.